Book of Common Prayer

5 I saw a book in the right hand of the one who sat on the chief chair. It had writing on the front and the back. It was locked with seven locks.

² I saw a strong angel calling with a loud voice. He said, `Who can open the book and break its locks?'

³ And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the book or look in it.

⁴ I cried very much because no one could open the book or look in it.

⁵ Then one of the leaders said to me, `Do not cry. See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah has won! The One who was born into David's family has won! He can open the book and break its seven locks.'

⁶ I saw a Lamb standing in front of the throne and the four living beings, and in front of the leaders. It looked as if it had been killed. It had seven horns and seven eyes. They are the seven Spirits of God who are sent out all over the earth.

⁷ He went and took the book from the right hand of the One who sat on the throne.

⁸ And when he took the book, the four living beings and the twenty-four leaders kneeled down in front of the Lamb. Every one of them had a harp and a gold bowl. The bowls were full of incense that smelled very sweet when it was burned. These bowls are the words of God's people when they talk to him.

⁹ And the four living beings and the leaders sang a new song. The new song was: `You are able to take the book and to open its locks, because you were killed. You have set the people free and bought them for God with the cost of your blood. They are from every tribe, language, nation, and country.

¹⁰ You have made them into kings and priests for our God. They will rule on the earth.'

¹¹ Then I saw and heard many angels. They were around the chair, and the living beings, and the leaders. There were many, many thousands.

¹² They said with a loud voice, `The Lamb of God who was killed is the only one good enough to be given power, riches, wisdom, strength, honour, praise, and blessing!'

¹³ Then I heard everything in heaven, on earth, under the earth, and on the sea, and everything in them say, `Blessing, honour, praise, and power belong for ever and ever to the One who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!'

¹⁴ Then the four living beings said, `Amen! May it be so!' And the leaders kneeled down and worshipped the One who lives for ever and ever.

5 When Jesus saw the many people, he went up on a hill. He sat down and his disciples came to him.

² He began to teach the people.

³ He said, `God makes happy those who know that they need him. The kingdom of heaven is for them.

⁴ `God makes happy those who are sad. They will have comfort.

⁵ `God makes happy those who quietly trust him and do not try to get their own way. The world will belong to them.

⁶ `God makes happy those who are hungry and thirsty for what is right and good. They will be filled.

⁷ `God makes happy those who are kind. He will be kind to them.

⁸ `God makes happy those who have clean hearts. They will see God.

⁹ `God makes happy those who make peace between people. They will be called God's sons.

¹⁰ `God makes happy those who have trouble for doing what is right. The kingdom of heaven is for them.

¹¹ `God makes you happy when people say wrong things about you, when they trouble you, and when they say all kinds of lies about you. God makes you happy when it is for my sake.

¹² Be happy and glad because God will be good to you in heaven. In the same way people troubled the prophets before your time.'